The Division seems to be the most jarring "love it"/"hate it" game that I've seen thus far because I've seen nothing but praise from some (And, mind you, these people are quick to call BS), meanwhile nothing but scorn from others.
Zero Punctuation: The Division
- Thread starter Yahtzee Croshaw
- Start date
I've had my reservations about The Division since those E3 trailers last year didn't really say what you, as the player, are supposed to accomplish in a plague-ravaged New York, and they've been backed up by this article on Wired.com saying you basically spend he game shooting scared civilians gone feral. At any point do you find the terrorists who did started it all?
Great Review Yahtzee : )
I watched previews, Let's Plays, etc and despite how I wanted to get interested in the game, it felt unoriginal and well, uninteresting.
In the Borderlands series at least the guns varied and were over the top silly plus the atmosphere made sense for Bullet Sponge Bosses for loot n shooters.
Since The Division is supposed to be based on near real world situations multi head shoting bosses unfortunately does not make any sense at all.
I wonder how long the servers will last once interest dies down?
I watched previews, Let's Plays, etc and despite how I wanted to get interested in the game, it felt unoriginal and well, uninteresting.
In the Borderlands series at least the guns varied and were over the top silly plus the atmosphere made sense for Bullet Sponge Bosses for loot n shooters.
Since The Division is supposed to be based on near real world situations multi head shoting bosses unfortunately does not make any sense at all.
I wonder how long the servers will last once interest dies down?
When I first heard of The Division, it seemed fairly interesting, and, of course, I immediately began comparing it to Destiny (a game that turns boring in a hurry). I was asking people about the story and LFG in the game, both of which people answered in the affirmative. Actually having a story, or at least so I was lead to believe, and, *gasp*, ACTUALLY TELLING IT TO YOU IN GAME (holy fuck balls! what a concept!) had already put the game miles ahead of Destiny. Even further cementing the deal was that there was actual match-making and group finder BUILT INTO THE GAME (my head ass-ploded!). Now I was genuinely interested! Then I saw that the game was made by Ubisoft, and I was suddenly torn by dilemma. On the one hand, the game seemed very exciting; on the other hand, Ubisoft (fucking hell!).
Now, given that this game was the new hotness, that meant every Twitch streamer and his first to third cousin would be playing the game. So, I spent time watching streamers play the game (also, it was them to whom I asking many of my questions about the game). Naturally, a lot of people, just as I did, immediately compared it to Destiny; however, as the arguments wound on, it became clear to many that Destiny is the wrong game to which to compare The Division. Instead, the better comparison would be to something like Diablo 3. At first, I was in disagreement with this idea, but, as I watched streamers play the game, it became more and more evident to me that comparisons to Diablo 3 were entirely appropriate. It was at that moment of realization that all interest in The Division immediately evaporated (hell, practically sublimated from solid to gaseous form in a single instance). The Division is just yet another soul-less, empty gear grind. There's absolutely nothing there. My prior internal conflict over the game was immediately resolved, and the Universe made sense, again: yeah...it's an Ubisoft game; not going to waste money on this shit-bucket. I give the game about 3 months for the novelty to finally wear-off and everyone becomes totally bored of it (so, yeah, maybe Destiny still is a reasonable comparison).
Now, given that this game was the new hotness, that meant every Twitch streamer and his first to third cousin would be playing the game. So, I spent time watching streamers play the game (also, it was them to whom I asking many of my questions about the game). Naturally, a lot of people, just as I did, immediately compared it to Destiny; however, as the arguments wound on, it became clear to many that Destiny is the wrong game to which to compare The Division. Instead, the better comparison would be to something like Diablo 3. At first, I was in disagreement with this idea, but, as I watched streamers play the game, it became more and more evident to me that comparisons to Diablo 3 were entirely appropriate. It was at that moment of realization that all interest in The Division immediately evaporated (hell, practically sublimated from solid to gaseous form in a single instance). The Division is just yet another soul-less, empty gear grind. There's absolutely nothing there. My prior internal conflict over the game was immediately resolved, and the Universe made sense, again: yeah...it's an Ubisoft game; not going to waste money on this shit-bucket. I give the game about 3 months for the novelty to finally wear-off and everyone becomes totally bored of it (so, yeah, maybe Destiny still is a reasonable comparison).
While I had a some amount of fun with the game, I am very much in agreement with Yahtzee here. The whole "secret sleeper agents" thing is utterly irrelevant to the story, except to make the implications of gunning down tons of people even worse. (Fuck, you're not even living in Manhattan, you have to get flown in. You could've been a member of SEAL Team 6 and it wouldn't have mattered.)The character customization is pointless because everything you to choose to wear is samey and boring (and decent customization of your face is nonexistent). While the enviromental design nicely conveys the feeling of desolation, the gameplay doesn't support that at all, and storywise Crysis 2 did this decaying New York thing better (The Division even coppies the quick-cuts-of-TV-news thing at the start, showing the escalating crisis caused by the disease). The forced-humor from the quest-givers is groan-inducingly stupid and ill-fitting. And elite enemies are total bastards. Though I'd rate the short ranged enemies with shotguns or flamethrowsers as badly as the snipers. Regular versions of these bastards are fine, they'll murder you if they get close so you need to shoot them before they get close. Elites just wade through your fire and shoot your balls off.
Still, the basic gunplay isn't too bad, and the game looks good. Know what I would've liked? This engine and basic gunplay, with the setting and variaty of The Secret World. The Division's active skills could be replaced by the various magics (I never felt that the gun-melee-magic system, where all just gave you basic attacks, really worked), and that'd be an excuse to give you a few more. You're just an openly admitted member of a shady organization, fighting some supernatural entities that don't feel as weird to shoot on sight (and who's bizare resistance to dozens of head shots are more believable). And some actual distinguishing looks and quests in the mix.
So, how long will it take to make a mod for that. One week? Maybe two?
Still, the basic gunplay isn't too bad, and the game looks good. Know what I would've liked? This engine and basic gunplay, with the setting and variaty of The Secret World. The Division's active skills could be replaced by the various magics (I never felt that the gun-melee-magic system, where all just gave you basic attacks, really worked), and that'd be an excuse to give you a few more. You're just an openly admitted member of a shady organization, fighting some supernatural entities that don't feel as weird to shoot on sight (and who's bizare resistance to dozens of head shots are more believable). And some actual distinguishing looks and quests in the mix.
So, how long will it take to make a mod for that. One week? Maybe two?
I've never been a fan of his works, but sticking Tom Clancy's name onto products that he didn't make seems disrespectful and disingenuous, like they're saying "Hey Tom Clancy made this! That means it's good!" Maybe the story is based off one of his writings, but it still seems like they're saying he had an active role in the development of the game.
Also, the gameplay seems very similar to the "Raid Mode" of REvelations 2. You know- the mode that was just thrown in there as an extra, mostly disconected from the main game, yet an entire game on its own. The point I'm trying to make here is REvelations 2 has both a very good survival horror game AND a very good shooter/RPG game (though raid mode does get tedious in large doses) while Dead Person's: The Division only has the one game.
Also, the gameplay seems very similar to the "Raid Mode" of REvelations 2. You know- the mode that was just thrown in there as an extra, mostly disconected from the main game, yet an entire game on its own. The point I'm trying to make here is REvelations 2 has both a very good survival horror game AND a very good shooter/RPG game (though raid mode does get tedious in large doses) while Dead Person's: The Division only has the one game.
But Yahtzee, have you even looked at the emergency signs in this game?
In case of emergency:
Keep calm and
In case of emergency:
Keep calm and
Because it is my own opinion, I didn't say that it is bad they like it I just said my opinion. There is no reason to get all mad about it.Michael Prymula said:
I'd been interested in The Division right up until I played in the beta. At that point I realized that this game would be great for people with lots of friends they can play with regularly, but solo? The shine wears off fast. And I played through Borderlands and every last bit of all its DLC solo, because the game was wacky and varied enough to hold my attention.
By the industry average? Yes. By the Halo average not so much though. In fact I think I saw some people argue that it was the weakest entry in the series regarding sheer copies.Michael Prymula said:
I'd play that, (Provided it's nothing like Call of Juarez the Cartel) if only because I'm tired of modern military shooters being so Americancentric.ravenshrike said:
And I AM American.
This can be turned around though. Just because people are happy with "grey sludge" doesn't mean it suddenly isn't "grey sludge".Michael Prymula said:
Ok. I thought the Post Office queue was funny, but this takes the cake. Maybe it's an Easter Egg, but I got the feeling that it isn't the case...Sewa_Yunga said:But Yahtzee, have you even looked at the emergency signs in this game?
In case of emergency:
Keep calm and